Woods, Water and Wildlife Fest set for Aug. 11

Thursday

Aug 9, 2012 at 3:15 AM

MILTON MILLS — Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) will present the 10th annual Woods, Water and Wildlife Festival on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This family-friendly celebration of the natural world is co-sponsored by Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust. Branch Hill Farm is also the attractive venue for the day's festivities and is conveniently located at 307 Applebee Road just off Exit 18 of the Spaulding Turnpike.

Several new fun and educational events will be featured at this year's festival. The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance will build a Rain Garden; attendees can lend a hand with the planting! NH Fish and Game will showcase Local Forest Products. Remick Museum staff will demonstrate cooking over an open fire, one of the Country Living Skills of the NH agricultural way of life. A new Enchanted Forest playground for kids has been created by Shortridge Academy students. Global Awareness/Local Action will demonstrate Do-It-Yourself Green Projects: home composting and making a rain barrel. There will also be new guided walks and booths.

Returning festival attendees will be happy to see their favorite events from previous years. Volunteer instructors from NH Fish and Game will again lend poles and bait and show kids how to bait and cast their line and reel in their fish at the Let's Go fishing! event. The kids' Self-guided Discovery Walk through the woods, new last year, is also back. Other popular events include Hay Rides to the scenic Salmon Falls River where nature experts show the creatures that live in and along the river, more nature experts from Squam Lakes Science Center display rescued NH Wildlife species, the Traveling Barnyard petting zoo, an Amazing Corn Maze for kids to explore, Down on the Farm presented by the NH Farm Museum, and the always lively kids' Craft Corner.

The festival admission is $5/person or $10/family and free to ages 12 and under. For more information on the festival, see www.mmrg.info/festival or call (603) 978-7125. More volunteers and event sponsors are still needed; please call (603) 755-1158 or email infommrg.info.